Looking back on South Coast history: February 10-12
The dress code didn't change but the currency did - and Margate invested in some natural lawnmowers!
THE question of building a harbour popped up again.
February 10
1950
THE present activities on the sandspit are causing many people to wonder whether the building of a bridge will sound the death knell to all hopes of Port Shepstone ever being a harbour again.
OLD habits die hard. “Councillor Rees felt that jackets and ties might well be dispensed with and that councillors should even be given permission to wear shorts. The mayor felt it would be disrespectful to the public should dress standards be relaxed.”
1961
“AFTER three years of lengthy and protracted discussions, first with the province and the railways to purchase the old ‘clackety-clack’ bridge when the new Mzimkhulu bridge was put into service and then, after it was washed away, with the province for the erection of an alternate bridge, more conveniently situated, it looks at last as if some finality will now be reached.”
BUT some things were changing. “When the Union, South West Africa and the protectorates change over to the rand/cent system on February 14, there will be certain basic knowledge which everybody should have.
1978
“POSTAL service an embarrassment.” Now, where have I heard that before?
1984
ANOTHER problem that won’t go away… “A former resident, who spent two years and four months transforming virgin bush into Settlers’ Park, this week slammed the Port Shepstone council for ‘allowing the park to degenerate into the mess it is’.”
1989
A R6-MILLION facelift, comprising a four-storey building as well as a multiracial operating theatre is on the cards for Port Shepstone Hospital.
February 11
1955
“THE recently inaugurated RMT bus service between Durban and Margate is running at a monthly loss of approximately £1 000. It seems to be reasonably certain that the service will soon be cut down from two buses to one bus each way daily.”
1977
“HOSPITAL heads for staff crisis.”
February 12
1954
“AS an experiment, the Margate Borough Council is to invest in six sheep and a herd boy to help keep down the grass and weeds in the back streets and alley ways of the town.”
1960
“CANNED ale and lager beers are now available in most off-consumption and other outlets on the South Coast.”
1971
“THE chairman of Margate Air Services this week confirmed that a consortium of businessmen recently bought the Margate Hotel for about R400 000. But he denied that tie-ups had been concluded with Air Rhodesia and South African Airways to fly visitors to Margate.”
THE same week it was reported that the route for the proposed Port Shepstone to Port Edward road had not yet been finalised and police were investigating the discovery of what could have been part of a human body, seen in a shark net at Trafalgar beach.
1982
“AN Izotsha farmer said he would be interested to know if anyone had ever seen a mouse with a bushy tail.”
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